Audio/computer experts - Please help with crackling coming from my speakers! - The Orange Mane

Broncobiv · 08-12-2011, 07:05 PM

I am using a pair of Altec Lansing external speakers (with a subwoofer) that came with my Dell computer purchased in 2000 (still using the speakers, but a newer computer obviously). These are the speakers (mine are white, but the model number is the same, so I assume all the specs are identical):

http://www.directron.com/acs340.html

The left speaker plugs directly into the right speaker, the right speaker plugs directly into the sub, and the sub plugs directly into the audio card in the tower. I've never had a problem with these speakers, no matter which of my computers I've plugged them into. For the past couple of months, a crackling noise has been coming out of the right speaker only. It was only every once in a while, so it was fairly easy to ignore. But for the past day, it's been a constant crackle, still coming from the right speaker only.

As far as troubleshooting goes, here's what I've found out: It scales with the volume knob. Turn the volume knob on the speaker up, and it gets louder. Turn the volume all the way down, and the noise stops. Changing the volume within the Windows sounds controls does nothing, however. Mute, up, down, nothing changes unless you actually turn the knob on the speaker. Lastly, it still happens when I use headphones. Again, the crackling only comes out of the right headphone.

Any help?? This is driving me nuts and I can't listen to music!

Fedaykin · 08-12-2011, 10:08 PM

If it happens with headphones and speakers, it's nothing wrong with the speakers, interference, etc.

Probably a ****ty sound card that's failing. If your computer is under warranty, make them replace the motherboard (almost all computer's sold in the last 5 years that weren't sold as very high end models have sound cards built into the motherboard).

If not, you can by a cheap replacement sound card and disable the onboard one.

For example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829265001 for $12

Of course, unless you know what you are doing with computers, find a friend that does (and buy them a damn six-pack or something for helping!) =)

or you can buy a USB one you don't have to crack the case to install:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829126101

I've never used one of those, so for all I know they are complete ****, but *shrug*

Broncobiv · 08-13-2011, 01:21 AM

There is an actual sound card, not just the one built into the motherboard. But if it sounds to you like it's a sound card issue and not the speakers themselves (because it happens through headphones, too), then tomorrow I'll swap out the sound card with another one from an old computer. If that fixes the problem, then I guess that's my answer!

Thanks for the idea on where to start. I'll post tomorrow if swapping sound cards fixed it.

Broncobiv · 08-13-2011, 05:51 PM

Well, I took the sound card out and replaced it with another one I had sitting around. Turned on the computer - no crackling!

Then just for the hell of it, I switched them back and turned the computer back on - still no crackling!

So...um...I guess all I had to do was pull it out and plug it back in? Gotta love that age-old fix! But then again, I like to believe that it was my threat of replacing him with an older model that got the sound card working again. Either way...problem solved I guess.

08-12-2011, 07:05 PM	#1
Broncobiv Tee many martoonis Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,264	Audio/computer experts - Please help with crackling coming from my speakers! I am using a pair of Altec Lansing external speakers (with a subwoofer) that came with my Dell computer purchased in 2000 (still using the speakers, but a newer computer obviously). These are the speakers (mine are white, but the model number is the same, so I assume all the specs are identical): http://www.directron.com/acs340.html The left speaker plugs directly into the right speaker, the right speaker plugs directly into the sub, and the sub plugs directly into the audio card in the tower. I've never had a problem with these speakers, no matter which of my computers I've plugged them into. For the past couple of months, a crackling noise has been coming out of the right speaker only. It was only every once in a while, so it was fairly easy to ignore. But for the past day, it's been a constant crackle, still coming from the right speaker only. As far as troubleshooting goes, here's what I've found out: It scales with the volume knob. Turn the volume knob on the speaker up, and it gets louder. Turn the volume all the way down, and the noise stops. Changing the volume within the Windows sounds controls does nothing, however. Mute, up, down, nothing changes unless you actually turn the knob on the speaker. Lastly, it still happens when I use headphones. Again, the crackling only comes out of the right headphone. Any help?? This is driving me nuts and I can't listen to music!

08-12-2011, 10:08 PM	#2
Fedaykin Ring of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,790 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	If it happens with headphones and speakers, it's nothing wrong with the speakers, interference, etc. Probably a **ty sound card that's failing. If your computer is under warranty, make them replace the motherboard (almost all computer's sold in the last 5 years that weren't sold as very high end models have sound cards built into the motherboard). If not, you can by a cheap replacement sound card and disable the onboard one. For example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829265001 for $12 Of course, unless you know what you are doing with computers, find a friend that does (and buy them a damn six-pack or something for helping!) =) or you can buy a USB one you don't have to crack the case to install: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829126101 I've never used one of those, so for all I know they are complete *, but shrug* Last edited by Fedaykin; 08-12-2011 at 10:11 PM..

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08-13-2011, 01:21 AM	#3
Broncobiv Tee many martoonis Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,264	There is an actual sound card, not just the one built into the motherboard. But if it sounds to you like it's a sound card issue and not the speakers themselves (because it happens through headphones, too), then tomorrow I'll swap out the sound card with another one from an old computer. If that fixes the problem, then I guess that's my answer! Thanks for the idea on where to start. I'll post tomorrow if swapping sound cards fixed it.

08-13-2011, 05:51 PM	#4
Broncobiv Tee many martoonis Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,264	Well, I took the sound card out and replaced it with another one I had sitting around. Turned on the computer - no crackling! Then just for the hell of it, I switched them back and turned the computer back on - still no crackling! So...um...I guess all I had to do was pull it out and plug it back in? Gotta love that age-old fix! But then again, I like to believe that it was my threat of replacing him with an older model that got the sound card working again. Either way...problem solved I guess.